Monday, December 03, 2007

Dial Daily Bread

Yes, the LORD loves everybody, doesn’t He? The Bible says so, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ...”

But the Bible also says that at the same time the LORD “abhors” some people!

How can He love somebody and at the same time “abhor” him?

The answer is that He can “abhor” somebody’s character and at the same time want him/her to learn repentance and be saved eternally.

The text that mentions this anomaly is Proverbs 22:14: “The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of the LORD will fall therein” (KJV and NKJV).

Of particular abhorrence to the Lord is a pastor, an ordained shepherd entrusted with the Lord’s flock, who betrays his solemn, holy calling by yielding to the temptation to commit adultery with “an immoral woman” (well, that’s any woman who will seduce such a servant of God).

Yes, the Lord can forgive as He forgave King David; many cite David as an example of easy “forgiveness,” just say you’re sorry it happened, and everything is fine. You can go on being a pastor again. (Just get moved to another church, they’ll never know.)

But David’s experience is anything but “easy.” Read the story of the rest of his life: sorrow, pain, and deep shame. He may be saved at last in God’s kingdom, but think of the stain that never was washed out.

And think of the young people who had put their trust in this pastor, ordained of God, who was their shepherd but youth who stumbled because of his evil example never to rise again spiritually.

The Lord wants to give everyone who believes in Him an “abundant entrance” into His eternal kingdom (cf. 2 Peter 1:11); but such an unfaithful shepherd may have what Job describes as “escaped with the skin of my teeth” (19:20).

If you are a pastor who has escaped falling into that horrible “pit,” that’s something to praise the Lord for endlessly, forever.

Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.